Liquid crystal display and method of displaying image in the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a method of displaying images, and a liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal panel assembly including a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines crossing with the gate lines, and a plurality of pixels which are respectively connected to one of gate lines and one of the data lines; and a driver providing an image signal to the pixels. At least a portion of a non-display area of the liquid crystal panel assembly is cut and removed, and the driver displays black at a first display area in the vicinity of the removed non-display area. An area displaying images can be surrounded by black and thus image can be well-balancedly displayed without being biased in the whole screen so as to improve display quality.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a methodof displaying image.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes two display panelsand a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween and having a dielectricanisotropy. An electric filed is formed in the liquid crystal layer, anda transmittance of light passing the liquid crystal layer is regulatedby regulating amplitude of the electric field so as to obtain a desiredimage. Such a liquid crystal display is representative one of a flatpanel display (FPD), and TFT-LCD which uses thin film transistor (TFT)as a switching element is widely used.

Generally, a plurality of display signal lines which cross with eachother, i.e., gate lines and data lines are formed on the display panelto which thin film transistors are formed, and in a pixel area of matrixshape which is defined by crossing of gate lines and data lines, aplurality of thin film transistors and pixel electrodes are formed. Thethin film transistor controls data signal which is transmitted throughthe data line by a data driving IC (integrated circuit) according to agate signal which is transmitted through the gate line by a gate drivingIC and transmits the same to the pixel electrode.

A display screen of a liquid crystal display may be divided into adisplay area and a non-display area. In the display area, pixels existand an image is displayed therein, but in the non-display area whichsurrounds the display area, pixels do not exist and a black matrixcovers thereon so that black is displayed thereon. In a particular case,a liquid crystal display may not include the non-display area, and inthis case, an image displayed on the screen is not displayed in balanceso that display quality may be deteriorated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a liquidcrystal display and a method of displaying image of the same which canbalancedly display image so as to improve display quality in case thatthere is no non-display area.

Technical Solution

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a liquidcrystal display including: a liquid crystal panel assembly including aplurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines crossing with thegate lines, and a plurality of pixels which are respectively connectedto one of gate lines and one of the data lines; and a driver providingan image signal to the pixels. At least a portion of a non-display areaof the liquid crystal panel assembly is cut and removed, and the driverdisplays black at a first display area in the vicinity of the removednon-display area.

The liquid crystal panel assembly may be cut along the gate line and thefirst display area is formed along the gate line.

The first display area may correspond to at least one gate line, and thedriver may provide black data to a pixel connected to the at least onegate line.

The first display area may correspond to at least one gate line, and theat least one gate line may be connected to gate-off voltage.

The first display area may correspond to a plurality of gate lines, andat least two gate lines of the plurality of the gate lines may beconnected to each other.

The liquid crystal panel assembly may be cut along the data line and thefirst display area is formed along the data line.

The first display area may correspond to at least one data line, and thedriver may provide black data to a pixel connected to the at least onedata line.

The liquid crystal panel assembly may be cut along the gate line andalong the data line and the first display area is formed along the gateline and along the data line.

The first display area may correspond to at least one gate line and atleast one data line, and the driver may provide black data to a pixelconnected to the at least one gate line and to at least one data line.

The driver may provide dummy data to the liquid crystal panel assembly.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method ofdisplaying image of a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystalpanel assembly including a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of datalines crossing with the gate lines, and a plurality of pixels which arerespectively connected to one of gate lines and one of the data lines,including displaying black in a first display area of the liquid crystalpanel assembly. A non-display area of the liquid crystal panel assemblyin the vicinity of the first display area is cut and removed.

The liquid crystal panel assembly may be cut along the gate line and thefirst display area is formed along the gate line.

The first display area may correspond to at least one gate line, and themethod may further includes providing black data to a pixel connected tothe at least one gate line.

The first display area may correspond to at least one gate line, and theat least one gate line may be connected to gate-off voltage.

The first display area may correspond to a plurality of gate lines, andat least two gate lines of the plurality of the gate lines may beconnected to each other.

The liquid crystal panel assembly may be cut along the data line and thefirst display area is formed along the data line.

The first display area may correspond to at least one data line, and themethod may further include providing black data to a pixel connected tothe at least one data line.

The liquid crystal panel assembly may be cut along the gate line andalong the data line and the first display area may be formed along thegate line and along the data line.

The first display area may correspond to at least one gate line and atleast one data line, and the method may further include providing blackdata to a pixel connected to the at least one gate line and to at leastone data line.

The method may further include providing dummy data to the liquidcrystal panel assembly.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, even in case that at least a portionof a liquid crystal panel assembly is removed so that there is nonon-display area, black data is provided at display area correspondingto the same, so an area displaying images can be surrounded by black andthus image can be well-balancedly displayed without being biased in thewhole screen so as to improve display quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a liquid crystal display according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of one pixel of a liquid crystaldisplay according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal panel assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal display which ismanufactured by cutting a liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIG. 3along one direction.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of image data of one frame which isdisplayed in a liquid crystal display according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a drawing showing one example of a display screen to which animage is displayed by the image data shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a drawing schematically showing a liquid crystal panelassembly for showing the image shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of image data of one frame which isdisplayed in a liquid crystal display according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a drawing showing one example of a display screen to which animage is displayed by the image data shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of image data of one frame which isdisplayed in a liquid crystal display according to yet another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a drawing showing one example of a display screen to which animage is displayed by the image data shown in FIG. 10.

BEST MODE

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc.are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate likeelements throughout the specification. It will be understood that whenan element such as a layer, film, region or substrate is referred to asbeing “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element orintervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an elementis referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are nointervening elements present.

First, referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a liquid crystal display and amethod of displaying image according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention will be explained in detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a liquid crystal display according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an equivalentcircuit diagram of one pixel of a liquid crystal display according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematicdiagram of a liquid crystal panel assembly according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panelassembly 300, a gate driver 400 and a data driver 500 connected toliquid crystal panel assembly 300, a gray voltage generator 800connected to data driver 500, a signal controller 600 controlling thesemembers, and an image processor 700 providing an image signal to signalcontroller 600.

Liquid crystal panel assembly 300 includes a plurality of signal linesG₁ to G_(q) and D₁ to D_(p), and a plurality of pixels PX connected tosignal lines and substantially arranged in a matrix shape. Meanwhile, ina structure shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, liquid crystal panel assembly300 includes lower and upper panels 100 and 200 which face each other,and a liquid crystal layer 3 which is interposed between panels 100 and200 and includes liquid crystal molecules which are aligned verticallyor horizontally. Lower panel 100 may be referred to as a thin filmtransistor array panel, and upper panel 200 may be referred to as acolor filter array panel.

A sealant 310 which is made of material for bonding two panels 100 and200 and defines a space which is filled with liquid crystal and preventsleak of liquid crystal is formed at edges of two panels 100 and 200, andpolarizers 12 and 22 for polarizing light are respectively attached toouter surfaces of two panels 100 and 200. One of polarizers 12 and 22may be omitted.

Signal lines G₁ to G_(q) and D₁ to D_(p) include a plurality of gatelines G₁ to G_(q) which transmit gate signals (also referred to as“scanning signal”), and a plurality of data lines D₁ to D_(p) whichtransmit data signal. Gate lines G₁ to G_(q) substantially extend in arow direction to be parallel to one another, and data lines D₁ to D_(p)substantially extend in a column direction to be parallel to oneanother.

Each pixel PX, for example, the pixel PX connected to the i-th (i=1, 2,. . . , q) gate line G_(i) and the j-th (j=1, 2, . . . , p) data lineD_(j) includes a switching element Q connected to signal lines G_(i) andD_(j) and a liquid crystal capacitor Clc and a storage capacitor Cstconnected to switching element Q. If necessary, storage capacitor Cstcan be omitted.

Switching element Q is a three terminal element such as a thin filmtransistor, etc. provided to lower panel 100, a control terminal thereofis connected to gate line G_(i), an input terminal thereof is connectedto data line D_(j), and an output terminal thereof is connected toliquid crystal capacitor Clc and storage capacitor Cst.

Liquid crystal capacitor Clc has two terminals of a pixel electrode 191of lower panel 100 and a common electrode 270 of upper panel 200, andliquid crystal layer 3 between two electrodes 191 and 270 serves as adielectric material. Pixel electrode 191 is connected to switchingelement Q, and common electrode 270 is formed on the entire surface ofupper panel 200 and a common voltage is applied thereto. Unlike FIG. 2,common electrode 270 may be provided on lower panel 100, and in thiscase, at least one of two electrodes 191 and 270 may be formed in alinear or bar shape.

Storage capacitor Cst, which assists liquid crystal capacitor Clc, isdefined by the overlap of pixel electrode 191 and a separate signal line(not shown) provided on lower panel 100 with an insulator interposedtherebetween, and a predetermined voltage such as common voltage isapplied to the separate signal line. However, storage capacitor Cst maybe formed by pixel electrode 191 and the overlying previous gate linearranged to overlap each other through the insulator.

Meanwhile, for realizing color display, each pixel PX uniquely displaysone of primary colors (spatial division) or each pixel PX alternatelydisplays primary colors (temporal division) as time lapses, and adesired color is recognized by a spatial and temporal sum of primarycolors. Examples of primary colors include three primary colorsincluding red, green, and blue. FIG. 2 shows an example of a spatialdivision, and in this example, each pixel PX has a color filter 230 forone of the primary colors in a region of upper panel 200 correspondingto pixel electrode 191. Unlike FIG. 2, color filter 230 may be formedabove or below pixel electrode 191 of lower panel 100.

Referring again to FIG. 1, gray voltage generator 800 generates two setsof gray voltages related to transmittance of pixel PX (a set ofreference gray voltage). Each set of the two sets of gray voltages has apositive value and a negative value with respect to common voltage,respectively.

Gate driver 400 is connected to gate line G₁ to G_(q) of liquid crystalpanel assembly 300, and applies gate signals, which are combinations ofa gate-on voltage Von and a gate-off voltage Voff, to gate lines G₁ toG_(q).

Data driver 500 is connected to data lines D₁ to D_(p) of liquid crystalpanel assembly 300. Data driver 500 selects one of gray voltages fromgray voltage generator 800, and applies the selected gray voltage todata lines D₁ to D_(p) as a data signal (a data voltage). However, whengray voltage generator 800 supplies the reference gray voltage in apredetermined number, not the voltages for all gray levels, data driver500 divides the reference gray voltage so as to generate the grayvoltages for all gray levels and selects the data voltage among these.

Signal controller 600 controls gate driver 400, data driver 500, and thelike.

Each of drivers 400, 500, 600, and 800 may be directly mounted on liquidcrystal panel assembly 300 in forms of at least one IC chips, may beattached to liquid crystal panel assembly 300 while being mounted on aflexible printed circuit film (not shown) by a TCP (tape carrierpackage), or may be mounted on a separate printed circuit board (notshown). Alternately, driver 400, 500, 600, or 800 may be integrated intoliquid crystal panel assembly 300, together with signal lines G₁ toG_(q) and D₁ to D_(p) and thin film transistor switching element Q. Inaddition, driver 400, 500, 600, or 800 may be integrated into a singlechip, and in this case, at least one of them or at least one circuitelement constituting them may be outside the single chip.

Image processor 700 receives image signals from the outside and storesthe same, and generates input image signal RGB and input control signalCON in accordance to display operation of liquid crystal display andtransmits the same to signal controller 600. Image signal from theoutside may be suitable for resolution and display standard but not so,and in this case, image processor 700 may suitably convert image signalto be suitable for resolution and display standard of liquid crystaldisplay assembly 300.

The operation of the liquid crystal display will now be described indetail.

Signal controller 600 receives input image signals RGB and input controlsignals CON for controlling display of the input image signals RGB. Theinput image signals RGB contains information of luminance of each pixelPX, and the luminance has grays of the predetermined number, forexample, 1024(=2¹⁰), 256(=2⁸) or 64(=2⁶). Examples of the input controlsignals CON includes a vertical synchronization signal Vsync, ahorizontal synchronizing signal Hsync, a main clock MCLK, a data enablesignal DE, etc.

Signal controller 600 processes the input image signals RGB according tothe operating condition of liquid crystal panel assembly 300 on thebasis of the input image signals RGB and the input control signals CON,and generates a gate control signal CONT1 and a data control signalCONT2. Then, signal controller 600 supplies the gate control signalCONT1 to gate driver 400 and supplies the data control signal CONT2 andthe processed image data DAT to data driver 500.

The gate control signal CONT1 may include a scanning start signal STVwhich instructs to start scanning and at least one clock signal whichcontrols output cycle of the gate-on voltage Von. In addition, the gatecontrol signal CONT1 may include an output enable signal OE limitingduration time of the gate-on voltage Von.

The data control signal CONT2 includes a horizontal synchronizationstart signal STH which notifies transmission of image data DAT to onerow of pixels PX, a load signal LOAD instructing to apply the datasignal to the data lines D₁ to D_(p), and a data clock signal HCLK. Thedata control signal CONT2 may also further include an inversion signalRVS for inverting the voltage polarity of the data signal relative tothe common voltage (hereinafter, the voltage polarity of the data signalrelative to the common voltage is simply referred to as the polarity ofthe data signal).

On the basis of the data control signal CONT2 from signal controller600, data driver 500 receives digital image data DAT for one row ofpixels PX, and coverts digital image data DAT into the analog datasignal by selecting the gray voltage corresponding to each digital imagedata DAT, and then applies the analog data signal to the data lines D₁to D_(p).

Gate driver 400 applies the gate-on voltage Von to the gate lines G₁ toG_(q) on the basis of the gate control signal CONT1 from signalcontroller 600 so as to turn on the switching element Q connected to thegate lines G₁ to G_(q). Accordingly, the data signal applied to datalines D₁ to D_(p) is applied to the corresponding pixel PX through theturned-on switching element Q.

A difference between the voltage of the data signal applied to the pixelPX and the common voltage becomes a charge voltage of the liquid crystalcapacitor Clc, that is, a pixel voltage. The alignment of liquid crystalmolecules varies according to the value of the pixel voltage, and thusthe polarization of light passing through liquid crystal layer 3 ischanged. The change in polarization causes a change in transmittance oflight by polarizers attached to liquid crystal panel assembly 300.

By repeating this operation for every one horizontal period (referred toas “1H” and equal to one cycle of the horizontal synchronizing signalHsync), the gate-on voltage Von is sequentially applied to all of thegate lines G₁ to G_(q), so data signal is applied to all pixels PX,thereby displaying image of one frame.

If one frame is completed, and a next frame starts, the state of theinversion signal RVS to be applied to data driver 500 is controlled suchthat the polarity of the data voltage to be applied to each pixel isopposite to the polarity thereof in the previous frame (“frameinversion”). At this time, the polarity of the data signals on one dataline may be changed in one frame according to the characteristics of theinversion signal RVS (for example, row inversion or dot inversion), orthe polarity of the data signals applied to a row of pixels may bedifferent from each other (for example, column inversion or dotinversion).

A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display having desired sizeby cutting and forming the above-described liquid crystal display willbe explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 4 together with FIG.1 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal display which ismanufactured by cutting a liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIG. 3along one direction.

Referring to FIG. 3, liquid crystal panel assembly 300 may be cut alonga cutting line AA′ or a cutting line BB′ depending on the desired size.The cutting line AA′ is a direction parallel with gate lines G₁ toG_(q), and the cutting line BB′ is a direction parallel with data linesD₁ to D_(p). In case that liquid crystal panel assembly 300 is cut alongany direction, the cutting method described hereinafter can be appliedin the same way. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 1, descriptions will bemade based on case in that cutting between gate lines G_(n) and G_(n+1)is performed by the cutting line AA′ and cutting between data linesD_(m) and D_(m+1) is performed by the cutting line BB′.

At first, polarizers 12 and 22 of liquid crystal panel assembly 300 arestripped by a predetermined width along the cutting line AA′ or BB′. Ifpolarizers 12 and 22 are stripped, lower panel 100 and upper panel 200are exposed. Subsequently, a cutting position is selected so as not todamage gate lines G_(n) and G_(n+1) and data lines D_(m) and D_(m+1) byinspecting exposed lower and upper panels 100 and 200 with a microscopeor the like. Subsequently, a first scribe line is made to a center depthof upper panel 200 along the selected cutting position using a diamondwheel, a diamond needle, a laser or the like, and liquid crystal panelassembly 300 is turned over and a second scribe line is made to a centerdepth of lower panel 100 to be coincided with the first scribe line.

Upper panel 200 and lower panel 100 are steadied for about 30 minutes ina state that the scribe lines are formed. Natural crack is formed alongthe scribe lines formed in two panels 100 and 200 for steadying, so airis introduced into liquid crystal layer 3, and if air is introduced intoliquid crystal layer 3, leak of liquid crystal layer 3 is temporarilyrestricted by the introduced air. After such a steadying step, if apredetermined force is applied from the outside, liquid crystal panelassembly 300 is cut along the scribe lines. A sealant 320 is covered onthe cut portion so as to prevent leak of liquid crystal from the cutportion.

By performing these steps, a liquid crystal panel assembly 301 having adesired size can be manufactured. In liquid crystal panel assembly 301cut along the cutting line AA′, gate lines G_(n+1) to G_(q) are removedand signal lines G₁ to G_(n) and D₁ to D_(p) are remained, and in liquidcrystal panel assembly 301 cut along the cutting line BB′, data linesD_(m+1) to D_(p) are removed and signal lines G₁ to G_(q) and D₁ toD_(m) are remained, and liquid crystal panel assembly 300 cut along thecut lines AA′ and BB′, signal lines G₁ to G_(n) and D₁ to D_(m) areremained. Size and resolution of liquid crystal panel assembly 301 aredetermined depending on the remained signal lines.

Although liquid crystal panel assembly 301 is manufactured in this way,signal controller 600 and drivers 400 and 500 process signals to beconsistent with liquid crystal panel assembly 300 before cutting.Accordingly, it is necessary to display images on liquid crystal panelassembly 301 which is formed by cutting by generating input image signalRGB in a suitable format. It is also possible to change signalcontroller 600 and drivers 400 and 500 to be suitable to liquid crystalpanel assembly 301, but it is easy and advantageous in cost to usesignal controller 600 and drivers 400 and 500 without change.

A method of generating input image signal RGB to be consistent withdisplay operation of the cut liquid crystal panel assembly 301 will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 11 using variousexamples.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of image data of one frame which isdisplayed in a liquid crystal display according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a drawing showing oneexample of a display screen to which an image is displayed by the imagedata shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a drawing schematically showing aliquid crystal panel assembly for showing the image shown in FIG. 6.These drawings is for explaining the case that liquid crystal panelassembly 300 is cut along the cutting line AA′ according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, image data of one frame is comprised of line dataof LD₁ to LD_(q) of q, and one line data LD₁ to LD_(q) is comprised ofpixel data PD₁ to PD_(p) of p. Line data LD₁ to LD_(q) are respectivelyapplied to pixel raw connected to gate lines G₁ to G_(q) correspondingto the corresponding subscript, and pixel data PD₁ to PD_(p) arerespectively applied to data lines D₁ to D_(p) corresponding to thecorresponding subscript.

Referring to FIG. 6, an edge of liquid crystal display according to anembodiment of the present invention is surrounded by a case 900, and ascreen surrounded by which users can see is divided a display area DA1which occupies most part of the screen, a display area DA2 which existsbelow display area DA1 and is disposed between display area DA1 and case900, and non-display area NA which exists at the left side, the rightside, and the upper side. In display area DA1 and DA2, pixels exist anddesired images can be displayed, but in non-display area NA, a pixelsdoes not exist and a black matrix for blocking light from the bottom isformed so that arbitrary image cannot be displayed and is displayed onlyin black. Display area DA2 corresponds to an area where gate linesG_(n−4) to G_(n) over the cutting line AA′ exist. In this embodiment,display area DA2 is an area corresponding to 5 gate lines G_(n−4) toG_(n), but it is not limited thereto and the number thereof can bevaried.

Frame data includes normal data, black data, and dummy data depending ondisplayed contents. The normal data corresponding to line data LD₁ toLD_(n−5) is displayed on the display area DA1 of liquid crystal panelassembly 301 and is composed of image data of content which is desiredto be displayed. The black data corresponding to line data LD_(n−4) toLD_(n) is displayed in black on display area DA2 of liquid crystal panelassembly 301. The dummy data corresponding to line data LD_(n+1) toLD_(q) is data for an area occupied by the removed gate line G_(n+1) toG_(q) and since it is needed for completion of operation of one frame ofsignal controller 600 and drivers 400 and 500, it is not displayed onthe screen. Accordingly, the dummy data may have an arbitrary datavalue, and for example, may be “00” or “FF” in case of 256-gray but notlimited thereto.

If image is displayed with this image data, display area DA2 belowdisplay area DA1 is always displayed in black as shown in FIG. 6, sodisplay area DA2 acts just as non-display area NA. Accordingly,non-display area NA and display area DA2 surrounding display area DA1 isseen in black, so image displayed in display area DA1 can bewell-balancedly displayed without being biased in the whole screen.

Referring to FIG. 7, in liquid crystal panel assembly 300 according toan embodiment of the present invention, horizontal lines G₁ to G_(q) areformed, and vertical data lines D₁ to D_(p) are formed. A gate pad GP isformed on a left end of respective gate lines G₁ to G_(q), and a datapad DP is formed on a upper end of respective data lines D₁ to D_(p).Gate driver 400 and data driver 500 may be respectively mounted to orflexible printed circuits may be respectively attached to gate pad GPand data pad DP. Gate signal from gate driver 400 is transmitted to gatelines G₁ to G_(q) via gate pad GP, and data signal from data driver 500is transmitted to data lines D₁ to D_(p) via data pad DP.

After liquid crystal panel assembly 300 is cut along the cutting lineAA′, gate lines G_(n−4) to G_(n) corresponding to display area DA2 iscut from the corresponding gate pad GP using a laser or the like (markedby ‘x’), and is connected to a signal line to which the gate-off voltageVoff is applied. Cutting point and/or connecting point SP may bepreferably positioned in the non-display area NA where the correspondinggate lines G_(n−4) to G_(n) are formed. So, the gate-off voltage istransmitted to the corresponding gate lines G_(n−4) to G_(n), and sincethe gate-off voltage Voff is −7V to −5V, the switching element Qconnected to the corresponding gate lines G_(n−4) to G_(n) are alwaysturned off. Accordingly, whenever any image data is transmitted to thecorresponding pixel PX, display area DA2 is always displayed in black.In this case, liquid crystal mode of liquid crystal panel assembly 300shown in FIG. 7 should be normally black which displays black when imagesignal is not applied, and PVA (patterned vertical alignment) mode isone of such modes.

Gate lines G_(n−4) to G_(n), if necessary, are cut from thecorresponding gate pad GP and is then connected to the common voltage,and in this case, it is preferable that the common voltage is less thanor equal to 0V.

In case that a portion (e.g., gate lines G_(n−3) to G_(n)) of gate linesG_(n−4) to G_(n) of display area DA2 are not connected to gate driver400 so as not to be supplied with gate signal depending on positions ofthe cutting line AA′ and the gate pad GP, gate signal supplied to gateline G_(n−4) can be supplied to gate lines G_(n−3) to G_(n) byconnecting gate lines G_(n−3) to G_(n) to gate line G_(n−4) using arepair line (not shown), so black data corresponding to line dataLD_(n−4) is applied to the whole pixels PX of display area DA2 so thatdisplay area DA2 is displayed in black.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of image data of one frame which isdisplayed in a liquid crystal display according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a drawing showing oneexample of a display screen to which an image is displayed by the imagedata shown in FIG. 8. These drawings are for explaining the case thatliquid crystal panel assembly 300 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention is cut along the cutting line BB′. Explanation forparts which are identical with the above-described embodiment will beomitted.

Among image data of one frame shown in FIG. 8, the normal data iscomprised of pixel data PD₁ to PD_(m−15) of respective line data LD₁ toLD_(q), the black data is comprised of pixel data PD_(m−14) to PD_(m) ofrespective line data LD₁ to LD_(q), and the dummy data is comprised ofpixel data PD_(m+1) to PD_(p) of respective line data LD₁ to LD_(q).

Referring to FIG. 9, in a liquid crystal display according to anembodiment of the present invention, display area DA2 is disposed at theright side of display area DA1, and corresponds to an area where datalines D_(m−14) to D_(m) at the left side of the cutting line BB′ of thecut liquid crystal panel assembly 301 exists. In this embodiment,display area DA2 is an area corresponding to 15 data lines D_(m−14) toD_(m), but the number of data lines is not limited thereto and may bevaried. A dot which is a basic unit for display one image is formed bycombination of a plurality of pixels PX (in this embodiment, threepixels form one dot), so the number of data lines D_(m−14) to D_(m)corresponding to display area DA2 is greater than the number of gatelines G_(n−4) to G_(n) in the above-described embodiment.

If image is displayed with this image data, display area DA2 at theright side of display area DA1 is always displayed in black as shown inFIG. 9, so display area DA2 acts just as non-display area NA.Accordingly, non-display area NA and display area DA2 surroundingdisplay area DA1 is seen in black, so image displayed in display areaDA1 can be well-balancedly displayed without being biased in the wholescreen.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of image data of one frame which isdisplayed in a liquid crystal display according to yet another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a drawing showingone example of a display screen to which an image is displayed by theimage data shown in FIG. 10. These drawings are for explaining the casethat liquid crystal panel assembly 300 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention is cut along the cutting lines AA′ and BB′.Explanation for parts which are identical with the above-describedembodiment will be omitted.

Among image data of one frame shown in FIG. 10, the normal data iscomprised of pixel data PD₁ to PD_(m−15) of respective line data LD₁ toLD_(n−5), the black data is comprised of pixel data PD_(m−14) to PD_(m)of respective line data LD₁ to LD_(n−5) and pixel data PD₁ to PD_(m) ofrespective line data LD_(n−4) to LD_(n), and the dummy data is comprisedof pixel data PD_(m+1) to PD_(p) of respective line data LD₁ to LD_(n)and line data LD_(n+1) to LD_(q).

Referring to FIG. 11, in a liquid crystal display according to anembodiment of the present invention, display area DA2 is disposed at theright side of and below display area DA1, and corresponds to an areawhere gate lines G_(n−4) to G_(n) over the cutting line AA′ and datalines D_(m−14) to D_(m) at the left side of the cutting line BB′ of thecut liquid crystal panel assembly 301 exist.

If image is displayed with this image data, display area DA2 at theright side of and below display area DA1 is always displayed in black asshown in FIG. 11, so display area DA2 acts just as non-display area NA.Accordingly, non-display area NA and display area DA2 surroundingdisplay area DA1 is seen in black, so image displayed in display areaDA1 can be well-balancedly displayed without being biased in the wholescreen.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, by cutting gate lines G_(n−4) toG_(n) corresponding to display area DA2 from the corresponding gate padGP using a laser or the like and connecting the same to the gate-offvoltage Voff, display area DA2 which is disposed below display area DA1can be displayed in black. In addition, by connecting gate linesG_(n−3)-G_(n) of display area DA2 which are cut from gate driver 400 togate line G_(n−4), display area DA2 can be displayed in black.

Although in the above-described embodiments display area DA2 is disposedbelow or at the right side of display area DA1, display area DA2 may bedisposed over or at the left side of display area DA1 depending onpositions of gate driver 400 and data driver 500.

While this invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal display comprising: a liquidcrystal panel assembly including a plurality of gate lines, a pluralityof data lines crossing with the gate lines, and a plurality of pixelswhich are respectively connected to one of gate lines and one of thedata lines; and a driver providing an image signal to the pixels,wherein at least a portion of a non-display area of the liquid crystalpanel assembly is cut and removed, and the driver displays black at afirst display area in the vicinity of the removed non-display area. 2.The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panelassembly is cut along the gate line and the first display area is formedalong the gate line.
 3. The liquid crystal display of claim 2, whereinthe first display area corresponds to at least one gate line, and thedriver provides black data to a pixel connected to the at least one gateline.
 4. The liquid crystal display of claim 2, wherein the firstdisplay are corresponds to at least one gate line, and the at least onegate line is connected to gate-off voltage.
 5. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 2, wherein the first display area corresponds to aplurality of gate lines, and at least two gate lines of the plurality ofthe gate lines are connected to each other.
 6. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel assembly is cutalong the data line and the first display area is formed along the dataline.
 7. The liquid crystal display of claim 6, wherein the firstdisplay area corresponds to at least one data line, and the driverprovides black data to a pixel connected to the at least one data line.8. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalpanel assembly is cut along the gate line and along the data line andthe first display area is formed along the gate line and along the dataline.
 9. The liquid crystal display of claim 8, wherein the firstdisplay area corresponds to at least one gate line and at least one dataline, and the driver provides black data to a pixel connected to the atleast one gate line and to at least one data line.
 10. The liquidcrystal display of claim 1, wherein the driver provides dummy data tothe liquid crystal panel assembly.
 11. A method of displaying image of aliquid crystal display including a liquid crystal panel assemblyincluding a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines crossingwith the gate lines, and a plurality of pixels which are respectivelyconnected to one of gate lines and one of the data lines, comprisingdisplaying black in a first display area of the liquid crystal panelassembly, wherein a non-display area of the liquid crystal panelassembly in the vicinity of the first display area is cut and removed.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the liquid crystal panel assembly iscut along the gate line and the first display area is formed along thegate line.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first display areacorresponds to at least one gate line, and further comprising providingblack data to a pixel connected to the at least one gate line.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the first display are corresponds to atleast one gate line, and the at least one gate line is connected togate-off voltage.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first displayarea corresponds to a plurality of gate lines, and at least two gatelines of the plurality of the gate lines are connected to each other.16. The method of claim 11, wherein the liquid crystal panel assembly iscut along the data line and the first display area is formed along thedata line.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first display areacorresponds to at least one data line, and further comprising providingblack data to a pixel connected to the at least one data line.
 18. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the liquid crystal panel assembly is cutalong the gate line and along the data line and the first display areais formed along the gate line and along the data line.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the first display area corresponds to at least onegate line and at least one data line, and further comprising providingblack data to a pixel connected to the at least one gate line and to atleast one data line.
 20. The method of claim 11, further comprisingproviding dummy data to the liquid crystal panel assembly.